Box #1 - Out of Bounds Play

Box #1

Out-of-bounds play against a man-to-man or zone defense

This is an out-of-bounds play designed for a quick three-pointer or curling lay-up off the inbound.  Here's how it is run:

1. This play is set up with a player at each block and at each elbow, giving it the name "Box."  Your best shooter should be throwing the ball in, and your second-best shooter should be at the elbow opposite the inbounder.  
2. This play starts with an up-screen from the center, set for the small forward, who will dive off the screen to the basket.  The defense will probably be anticipating something like this, so it most likely won't be open.  Obviously, if it is, make the basketball play.  Anyway, your power forward should be attempting to seal his man on the inside, where the defender will be playing anyway.  About 2-3 seconds in, the power forward should shoot out almost to the arc, and the shooting guard should pass the ball here.  Worst comes to worst, throw the ball out to the point guard if you can't make the inbound pass.
3. Once the power forward catches, he will swing the ball to the point guard, and the inbounder should take a few jogging steps towards the opposite side to lure his defender and make it seem like he's about to curl around a double screen.  After the pass, your power forward will set a screen at the block, which the shooting guard should come off of.  Simultaneously, the center will set a downscreen for the small forward, which he will curl off of.
4. Now, the point guard should either be looking for an open guard in the corner or the small forward curling to the basket.

Stack Offense #4 - Man-to-Man Offense

Stack Offense #4

Offense against a man-to-man defense

This is another set play from the Stack offense series.  Effective against a man-to-man defense, this play should result in an alley-oop or a post-up.  Here's how this is run:

1. This play is set up in a two-guard set, your point guard in control of the ball.  Your small forward and center should be stacked at the ball-side block, with your power forward at the opposite block.
2. To start this play, your small forward should follow your center as he flashes to the elbow, then jet outwards to create space to receive the ball.  The point guard should enter the ball into the wing, then dive down off a screen set by the center to the block.  If the point guard's defender gets caught on the screen, hit the point guard for a lay-up.  If not, he should cut through to the corner.  
3. As soon as the point guard passes the screen set by the center, the power forward should set a backscreen on the center's man.  Wait until the power forward is set, or it will result in a moving screen.  The center should roll around the screen looking for a lob pass from the small forward.  After the center comes off the screen, the power forward will roll/dive to the block, posting up.  The first look is the alley-oop to the center, and the second look should be the post-up at the block.  One of these should be open, but you must make sure your small forward can make this pass.

Stack Offense #3 - Man-to-Man Offense

Stack Offense #3

Offense against a man-to-man defense

This is another set play off of the Stack set.  Effective against a man-to-man defense, there is only one option on this play, and it is designed for a quick-hitter for a three-pointer from the corner.  Here is how this play is run:

1. This offense is set up in a two-guard set, your point guard in control of the ball, with your small forward and center stacked at the ball-side block with your power forward at the opposite block.
2. To start this play, the small forward will follow the center as he flashes to the elbow, then the small forward will jet out to the wing.  This is necessary to create space in order to receive the ball.  The point guard will enter the ball to the small forward, but will not dive on this play.
3. As the small forward catches the ball, the center will dive to the block asking for the ball.  If he's got his man sealed, you can go ahead and hit him, but this isn't really the look this play is designed for.  Anyways, the small forward should make it seem like he's trying to enter the ball into the post, and unable to, he will pass the ball back to the point guard.  The ball should be swung as quickly as possible, and immediately after passing the ball, the small forward will cut around the baseline off of screens from the center and power forward.  He will cut to the corner looking for a wide-open three.  If the power forward's man fights over the screen to the corner, he should take a step to the ball and the shooting guard should hit him for a lay-up.

Stack Offense #2 - Man-to-Man Offense

Stack Offense #2

Offense against a man-to-man defense

This offensive set is another set play off the Stack set.  Effective against a man-to-man defense, this play is designed to relieve defensive pressure to create an easy lay-up opportunity.  This is how this is run:

1. This offense is set up in a two-guard set, your point guard with the ball, with your small forward and center stacked on the ball-side block with your 4-man (PF) on the opposite block.  The second guard should be a player who is being pressured defensively.  If he's being denied the ball, he should be about the same distance from the basket as the point guard.
2. This play starts out with your center flashing to the elbow with your small forward jetting out from the elbow.  Your small forward will follow your center to the elbow, then cut out to create space.  All of this action is simply a decoy.  Your point guard will make it appear as if he's trying to enter the ball to the small forward.  Then, unable to enter the pass, your point should dribble back towards your shooting guard.  Your shooting guard should take a step or two towards your point guard.
3. While your point is dribbling towards your shooting guard, your power forward will flash hard to the high post.  Your point should throw a firm bounce pass to the high post.
4. Immediately as the point guard passes the ball to the high post, your shooting guard will cut straight to the basket.  If the shooting guard's defender is putting pressure on the shooting guard, this should result in a quick bounce pass to the cutting guard for a lay-up.  This is option 1,  the main point of this play, but it doesn't stop here if this pass cannot be made.
5. If the shooting guard doesn't get it, he will cut through to the opposite corner.  Then, the point guard will run off the high post looking for a hand-off for a lay-up, and while this is happening, your small forward and center set a double-screen for your shooting guard coming up.  This should result in one of these shots, and as always, if the defense switches, the center should slip the screen for a lay-up.

Stack Offense #1 - Man-to-Man Offense

Stack Offense #1

Offense against a man-to-man defense

The point of this offensive set is essentially just to get a nice ball-screen on the wing that creates looks for every player on the court.  Here's how it works:

1. This offensive set begins in a two-guard set, with your point handling the ball.  You should have your 3 (SF) stacked at the ball-side block with your 5-man (C), and your 4-man should be on the opposite block.
2. To start the play, your shooting guard and power forward should still be in the same position.  Your small forward will follow your center up to the elbow (literally right against him, allowing no room), then breaking out to the wing to create space from a high-pressure defender.  The point guard should enter the ball into the wing, and then dive to the corner by cutting down off the center's screen to the block, then shooting to the corner.  If the pass is open to the point guard cutting, hit him in stride for a lay-up.  Otherwise, just wait for him to cut to the corner.
3. Now, your center will go set a ball-screen for your small forward on the wing.  Simultaneously, your power forward will curl around to set a backscreen for your shooting guard.  Your small forward should attack the basket and your center should roll after setting the screen.  Also, your point guard can slide up a little bit or stay in the corner if he's open.
4. Now here are your options!  Your small forward can a) attack the basket, b) pull up for a jumpshot from the elbow, c) hit your center rolling, d) hit your shooting guard off the backscreen, e) hit your power forward at the elbow as he flashes after setting the backscreen, and f) hitting the point guard in the corner or low wing for a three.

There are multiple set plays off this offensive set, so stay tuned for the rest!

"Cardinal Dive" - Man-to-Man Offense

"Cardinal Dive"

Offense against a man-to-man defense

This is a little something I picked up from watching the Louisville Cardinals the past couple years in the NCAA tournament.  They're a treat to watch, and Rick Pitino has some pretty nice draw-ups in his playbook.  Here's how it runs!

1. The play is set up in sort of a 2-guard set with the center at the high post and two wing players.
2. The play begins with the point guard (let's call him Russ) passing the ball to the forward "F" (probably your 4-man) at the top of the key.  The center sets a screen at the elbow, and Russ dives to the basket.  If Russ's man is playing tight and gets caught on the screen, look for a lob in there.  This probably isn't ideal, but it's a possibility.
3. The ball is then swung to the 3-man "F" on the wing.  The 4-man who passed the ball dives to the block.  You're really not looking for any sort of pass here.
4. The 2-guard on the away-side and the center walk down to set what should look like a double-screen for Russ.  Instead, the 2-guard bolts off the center's screen to the top of the key.  As the screening action is occurring, the 3-man dribbles up a couple dribbles and passes to the 2-guard coming off the screen.  If he is wide open, that's a good shot.  If not, no problem, that's not the end of the play.
5. The center then slides down and over a bit to set a downscreen for Russ coming up.  Simultaneously, after the 3-man passes to the 2-guard, he will drift back as the 4-man curls around to set a backscreen for the 3-man.  So on ball-side, you've got a downscreen for your point guard and on the opposite side you've got a backscreen going on.
6. There are four options on this play now.  The 2-guard can either a) hit Russ coming off the downscreen, b) skip to the flaring 3-man off the backscreen, c) hit the 4-man slipping or rolling, or d) hit the center slipping or rolling.  If the 4- or 5-men's defenders help on the screen, slip.  The back-court defender will be trailing Russ, so if the center's defender helps, he can slip for a wide-open lay-up.  Similarly, if the 4-man's defender recognizes the backscreen, he will most likely pop out or at least show hard while the 3-man's defender recovers.  In this split second, the 4-man has to recognize what his defender is doing and slip to the basket.

This play is so lethal because, assuming the big men can recognize when their defenders help off, this will result in a wide-open three or a wide-open lay-up/dunk on the slip.  I've got a few more "Pitino Plays" coming soon for you guys.

Cross - "X" - Zone Offense

Cross

Offense against a 2-3 or 3-2 zone

*This offense has multiple options for all types of shots

This offense is called Cross, or X.  You can see why in frame 3.  It's a set offense against a zone, with the point guard on top, two wings, and two big men, the "crossers."  I prefer a zone offense that attacks the zone and causes the defense to work harder, but this is a very good "passive" offense that slows the game down and works for a good shot.

1. As I just mentioned above, the set-up for this offense is simply a guard on top, two wings, and two crossers in the paint.
2. When the ball is passed to the wing, the already ball-side big man posts up at the block asking for the ball.  The away-side big man flashes to the elbow/high post, and the away-side guard slides down to the corner.  Unless the ball is on top, the wings must always be opposite each other.  One will be in the corner, one will be on the wing.  This is so a skip pass opportunity is available.  A skip right across from wing to wing is a dangerous pass.
3. In frame 3, the ball is swung around.  As the ball is swung around, the wing without the ball slides to the corner, the forward who was just at the high post flashes down to the block and posts up, and the big man who was posting up flashes to the high post.  The offensive players in the paint essentially cross in the form of an X, giving this offense it's name.

Now let's go through the different shot options.  There are at least six (in no particular order):

Option 1:

The wing enters the ball to the crosser at the high post, where he looks for a jump shot for drives to the basket.  Simple enough.

Option 2:

The wing enters the ball down to the low post, and the high post crosser cuts to the basket.  A little drop off from the post creates a nice lay-up, and if that pass isn't there, the cutter must rotate back out and let his teammate make a post move.  

Option 3:

Similar to the previous option, the ball is entered to the post and dished to the cutting player.  This will most likely attract the attention of the third low-defender in a 2-3 or the third high-defender in a 3-2, and if this player can make the play, drive and kick to the corner for a wide-open three.

Option 4:

This one's sort of opposite option 2.  The ball is entered into the high post, and the low post flashes up or seals his man behind him and asks for the ball.  This creates a little high-low action, always effective.

Option 5:

Very simple here.  If the low man in the zone opposite the ball is cheating over in the paint, throw a strong skip pass to the corner for a three or a drive.

Option 6:

Working off of option 6, the skip pass is thrown to the corner, and the offense rotates as they would naturally in this play.  Crosser "F" flashes to the high post, and crosser "C" flashes down and posts up at the block.  Hit one of these and that's your offense.

Now the key is take what the defense gives you.  You're not going to run this play and call "Cross! Option 3!"  You can't plan for that.  All offensive players must be comfortable knowing what the right play is, what the right pass is.  And that's really what basketball is.  To some extent, you just have to play basketball.  And I know that sounds silly, but you'll learn what works and what doesn't work in practice, and then come game-day and things should click.

Stack - Out of Bounds Play

Stack

Out of bounds offense against any defense

This play is really simple and straightforward.  This is designed for a three-pointer from the opposite side corner off the inbound.  

1. Real straightforward here.  This play is set up with a shooter and a screener stacked at the block away from the ball, a guard at the elbow, and a forward/center at the ball-side block.  
2. On the ball-side of the play, have the forward up-screen for the guard, and the guard will come off of it flashing to the basket.  After setting the screen, the forward should roll to the corner.  This is basically a distraction, while also lulling the opposite side defense to sleep.  After about 1.5-2 seconds, the shooter away from the ball will make a hard two-step flash to the middle of the paint.  Immediately the shooter will turn around as the center "C" sets a screen on the shooter's man, and your three-point shooter will sprint to the corner off the screen.  If a solid screen is set, this will result in wide-open three.  This is the shot this play is designed for.  If the screener's man fights around the screen to take away the corner pass, it will leave the paint open for a quick bounce pass for a lay-up.

This play can really only be used once a game because of its simplicity.  It should work when you use it, but if you use it more than once there's a good chance the defense will know exactly what shot you're looking for.

Four-High Set - Man-to-Man Offense

Four-High Set

Offense against a man-to-man defense

The reason I'm calling this a four-high set is because after the initial break, the offense is set up into a four-high set.  The main purpose of this play is to get a good angle for a post entry pass in a position for your post player to have a one-on-one post move with his defender.  So here's how this works:

1. First, set up your offense with your point guard in the middle of the floor and two double-stacks at the blocks, just like the set-up for Shocker if you took a look at that play.  
2. The big men will flash to the elbow, and the guards will trail right behind them.  As soon as the guards reach the elbow, pop straight out free-throw line extended.  This is to release pressure against a tight man-to-man defense.
3. The point guard will make an entry pass to either wing, and as soon as he does, he will cut through to the ball-side corner and sit tight.  While this happens, the ball-side big man will set an off-ball screen at the opposite elbow for the other big man, who will curl around the screen and down to the block.  This is your first option.  If his man is trailing him behind the screen, hit him for the wide open lay-up/dunk.  
4. Simultaneously while the big man is curling, the offensive player setting the screen will pop out above the three-point line at the top of the key.  The first look is into the post, and if nothing is there, swing it to the forward popping out top.  Now, the big man at the block should attempt to seal his man behind him to create an angle for a direct pass from the top of the key into the paint.  This should be a lob pass, but shouldn't hang in the air waiting to be picked off.  This is the best look this offense creates.  This is what you want, an entry pass from the top of the key for a one-on-one right under the basket.  
5. If this pass isn't there, swing the ball to the other guard on the wing, and just as before the big man in the paint should be rotating around asking for the ball.  If he's got his man on his back, hit him and let him go to work.  However, if this pass is being taken away (and even if it's not), the forward who just passed the ball and the guard who initially caught the ball will be setting a double screen for the point guard who should still be hanging out in the corner.  The guard should come off the double screen right about the elbow for a 15-foot free-throw line jumper.  Upon setting the second part of the double screen, there is a good chance that, seeing the point guard's defender caught up on screens, the screening man's defender will switch out to deny the pass to the curl.  If this happens (which it most likely will), the screener "slips" the screen to the basket for a lay-up.

Quick recognition, quick reactions.  That's what basketball is about, and that's how this play becomes effective.  You can't hold onto the ball too long.  As soon as a pass is thrown, the offense should be moving, and nobody should be holding onto to the ball for more than a second or two.  Anything more and you allow the defense more time to assess what's going on.  This play should be effective at the college and high school levels every time, and you should be able to get a look from one of the listed options above.

Shocker - Zone Offense

 Shocker

Offense against a 2-3 or 1-3-1 zone

The diagrams above illustrate a play I call "Shocker."  This is a quick-hitting play that is effective against a 2-3 or 1-3-1 zone defense that will result in an open three-pointer on the wing or a post man slipping for a lay-up.  

1. The play is set up with the point guard handling the ball in the middle of the court midway between the three-point line and half court line, and two double stacks at the blocks: the 2 stacks with the 4, and the 3 stacks with the 5, for example.  
2. Both sets of stackers jog up to the free throw line, the 2 and 3 staying right behind the 4 and 5, then once they hit the elbow, jet out (free-throw line extended) to the wing.  It is very important for the guards to break out this way in order to "get open" to sell the defender.  
3. The guard will then throw a high pass to the forward/center at or just above the elbow.  As this happens, the guard on the side the ball enters will then "banana-cut" under the basket to the corner (or wing), while the opposite side guard and big man set a screen on the high and low men in the zone, respectively.  As soon as the guard reaches his position, the ball should be skipped from the elbow to the opposite side corner.  Timing is everything.  
4. In this zone, the center man in the zone will be forced to guard the ball at the elbow, leaving the paint to the low man being screened by the offensive guard.  If the low man fights around the screen to cover the corner, the guard setting the screen will slip and open up to the basket.  The forward/center catching the initial pass must be able to read the defense appropriately.  As long as this offensive player can make both the skip pass or a slip pass, this play should work every time.  

Needless to say, this play can't be used every time, but if used two to three times a game, you should get two to three good shots from it.

The Perfect 2-3 Zone - Basics

In the game of basketball, the 2-3 zone is one of the most effective and difficult defenses to run.  Most people think it's simple: guards at the elbows, forwards at the blocks, and a center in the middle.  However, it's far more complicated than this.  Who's got the corners?  Who's got the guard at the top of the key?  The efficiency of the zone is based on rotation.  How well the defense rotates dictates the success.

So generally, you won't have it so tightly packed as I just mentioned above, unless you're playing an awful shooting team.  Normally, you'll have your two guards somewhere between the elbow and the three-point line, your forwards a few feet spread out from the block, and your center locking down the paint and the high post (when the center is at the high post, you'll need the weak side defender packing in more).  In a zone, the key for the low men is to have no one behind you.

When the ball is thrown to the wing, use the free throw line as a guideline.  Anything above the free throw line is the top guard's responsibility, and anything below the free throw line becomes the low forward's responsibility.

Here's how the zone should look from a general standpoint:

Notice the spacing.  The forwards aren't standing on top of the block, but instead they're a few feet out of the paint, because if the ball goes to the corner, that is the forward's responsibility.  

If the ball is on the top of the zone:

Assuming they are in a two- or three-guard set, one guard will pick up the ball and the other will stay help-side, able to close out on the wing if it is passed or able to clog up the line to stop penetration.  

Now note the free throw line guideline, as discussed earlier.  Anything above the free throw line is the top guard's responsibility, whereas anything below is the low forward's.  However, if the ball is thrown (or skipped) to the wing above the free throw line, the forward will be closer to the offense than the guard.  In this case, the forward must close out on the wing, not allowing him baseline, until the guard recovers at which point the forward releases the offense to his teammate.  Pretty straightforward.  

If the ball is swung to the corner:

Ideally, in a zone, the corner is exactly where you want the ball to go.  Many teams like to trap corners, in which case the forward and guard trap the offensive player, the help-side guard covers first pass on the wing, the center closes off the middle, and the off-side forward pretty much just covers back as your safety.  Anyway, without trapping, the forward closes out on the corner, and the same-side guard should be in a position to cut off a driving lane middle, and force the ball back out.  The zone is used to stop penetration and to keep the ball outside, forcing the offense into three-point bombs.  The center rotates over and takes away any player at the block, the back-side guard drops to the middle, and the far-side forward slides over to the middle while watching the skip pass to the wing.  

There are three ways to break the zone: get really hot from three, beat it up the floor, and hit the high post.  Obviously you don't want to rely on three-point shots, because chances are, you won't shoot 70% the whole game.  Additionally, there are not fastbreak opportunities on every play.  So the best way for an offense to break a 2-3 zone is to get the ball into the high post.  Normally, in a zone offense, this will be the team's best player.  He will be able to shoot the free throw line jumper, attack the basket well, and pass well.  So once the ball gets inside, he has multiple options.  Most teams will have a baseline cutter as soon as the ball hits the high post or at least a flasher, and he can make that pass.  He can turn and face, and then make his decision whether he wants to shoot the J, attack the basket, attack and dish, or kick it back out.  Now on a one-on-one situation with this offensive player and your middleman, there's a good chance this will lead to a good shot or a foul.  In the zone, you want to prevent the high post entry pass as much as possible.  The center can match up with this spot, and the forwards can match up accordingly.  If the pass gets into the high post, though, my recommendation is to have the closer guard immediately pressure/double the high post.  This will put pressure on him to make a quick decision.  There's a good chance he will attack and lose the ball, take a quick (and bad) shot, or at the very least, kick the ball back out to reset.  If this happens, the zone has served its purpose.

A zone isn't designed to force turnovers.  Instead, it should slow the game down and force a sub-par shooting team into taking a lot of long shots or slowing down a high-powered fastbreak offense.

I'll make another post soon with a more complicated description of a trapping zone, but thanks for taking a look at the basics!